Urban Travel Route and Activity Choice Survey

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an Internet-based prompted-recall activity travel survey using Global Positioning System (GPS) data collection combined with a short activity preplanning and scheduling survey. In addition to collecting traditional activity travel diary data, this survey collects basic information about activity planning and scheduling processes. Because aging is a growing concern among transportation planners, this survey has a special focus on the elderly population with about half of the survey sample consisting of elderly households. Respondents carried a portable GPS device for 14 consecutive days and at the end of each day uploaded the collected data to a website where the activity travel survey questionnaires were answered. Results indicate that the quality of the data collected is superior to other survey approaches and that the response rates are satisfactory considering the time commitment involved in participation. The results reinforce previous findings that GPS surveys have an improved ability to capture trips that are frequently underreported and provide valuable data about the activity planning and scheduling process itself. Respondents' feedback on their participation experience and fatigue and conditioning analysis reveal that this type of survey has great potential for data collections that last longer than 2 weeks.